With Means For Lubricating Patents (Class 494/15)
  • Patent number: 10954471
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system for purifying fats, oils, and grease from wastewater. The system may include a trash pump configured to pump the wastewater into the system, a grinder pump positioned downstream of the trash pump and configured to grind materials in the wastewater to form a process mixture, a plurality of heat exchangers positioned downstream of the grinder pump and configured to heat the process mixture, a shaker tray positioned downstream of the grinder pump and configured to remove solids from the process mixture, a decanter positioned downstream of the shaker tray and configured to remove solids from the process mixture, and a centrifuge positioned downstream of the decanter and configured to remove liquids and solids from the process mixture to form purified FOG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Smisson-Mathis Energy, LLC
    Inventor: Franklin Mathis
  • Patent number: 10058876
    Abstract: A decanter centrifuge with a rotating bowl is provided with at least one solids discharge port and at least one clarified liquid discharge port and a screw conveyor disposed coaxially within the rotating bowl to be rotated in the same direction with a differential rotational speed. A feed suspension to be separated is introduced into a ring shaped space formed between the rotating bowl and the screw conveyor through a central feed pipe fixed to the end of the screw conveyor and supported in at least one bearing. The feed suspension is separated by centrifugal force into a solid phase and a liquid phase so that the solid phase is discharged from the solid discharge port and the liquid phase is discharged from a clarified liquid discharging apparatus. A sealing of the feed pipe and the bowl shaft at the feed end of the feed pipe is provided as adjacent double axial sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: ANDRITZ S.A.S.
    Inventor: Jan Michelsen
  • Patent number: 9550192
    Abstract: A rotor unit for a centrifugal separator, which centrifugal separator comprises a non-rotatable housing wherein the rotor unit is disposed about a central axis of rotation, an inlet for supply of a mixture of components to be separated, at least one outlet for a component separated during operation, whereby the rotor unit, at least parts of which are made of metal, comprises a separating chamber formed inside the rotor unit, an inlet chamber connected to the inlet and the separating chamber, is formed radially within said separating chamber and is usually shielded from the separating chamber, at least one outlet connected to the separating chamber, a plurality of separating discs disposed at a distance axially from one another in said separating chamber coaxially with the axis of rotation, at least a number of the metal parts of said rotor unit are undetachably joined together to form a composite assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: ALFA LAVAL CORPORATE AB
    Inventor: Kjell Klintenstedt
  • Patent number: 9381522
    Abstract: A solid-bowl screw-type centrifuge for clarifying substance uses a centrifuge drum that can hold the substance, and has a pond radius. A centrifuge screw is situated in the centrifuge drum. The centrifuge screw is supported on one of its axial end regions by a connecting flange that protrudes axially inward on a drum cover of the centrifuge drum and has a flange outside radius at a transition to the drum cover. The flange outside radius of the connecting flange is larger than the pond radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Flottweg SE
    Inventor: Benno Vielhuber
  • Patent number: 9132435
    Abstract: A separator in which a product such as milk is to be processed, the separator includes: a centrifugal drum; an admission tube; a distributor including an admission chamber located downstream of the admission tube and distribution channels leading into a centrifugal chamber of the centrifugal drum. A rib body is located in the admission chamber and the rib body provides an outlet to the distributor channels. The rib body includes a plurality of ribs and a base section connecting the plurality of ribs along a periphery of the base section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: GEA Mechanical Equipment GmbH
    Inventor: Wilfried Mackel
  • Patent number: 9056320
    Abstract: A centrifuge capable of suppressing a long-time depressurization as compared with the case of starting depressurizing after cooling has been completed as well as shortening a cooling time of a rotor and a sample in the rotor is achieved as compared with the case of starting cooling is at the same time with depressurization. Operation of a Peltier element is started at the same time with operation start of the centrifuge. A bowl is cooled by heat absorption of the Peltier element, and the rotor is cooled by the bowl with using ambient air as a thermal medium. At this time, a vacuum pump depressurizing a rotor chamber is in an OFF state (ambient conditions). After a predetermined time is elapsed, the vacuum pump is turned on to start depressurization of the inside of the rotor chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Watahiki, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20150141231
    Abstract: A separator drum having a vertical rotation axis and an inflow line for a material which is to be processed by centrifuging is driven by a drive apparatus via a drive spindle. The drive spindle is rotated by a motor designed as a direct drive and having a stator and a rotor. The drive apparatus is arranged in a drive housing having a motor housing section designed as an explosion-protected structure that is encapsulated in a pressure-resistant manner and in which the motor is accommodated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: GEA Mechanical Equipment GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Strauch, Thomas Bathelt, Andreas Bolte
  • Publication number: 20150126352
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to realize standardization of products of the vertical centrifugal separators so that it is no longer necessary to change the pressure-resistant design specifications of the bearing mechanism depending on the set pressure inside the casing. The vertical centrifugal separator having the bearing mechanism that is disposed in an opening of the casing and rotatably supports the rotary shaft of the bowl passing through the opening. The shaft sealing mechanism is a contactless shaft sealing mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: KENJI MORITA
  • Publication number: 20150051059
    Abstract: A separator arrangement includes a drum with a vertical axis and which is rotatably mounted in a hooded area and placed on a rotatable drive spindle. The arrangement also includes a sealed drive area containing one or more or all of the components of a separator drive, and a pump that generates negative pressure in the sealed drive area relative to the surroundings outside of the drive area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: GEA Mechanical Equipment GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Thomas Bathelt, Andreas Penkl, Dieter Strauch
  • Patent number: 8845505
    Abstract: A separator includes a centrifugal drum having a vertical axis of rotation and a feed line for material to be centrifuged. A drive spindle for the centrifugal drum is rotatably mounted on a housing via a bearing, the housing being supported elastically on a machine frame. A drive device includes a motor housing and an electric motor having a stator and an armature which is aligned with the drive spindle. The drive device and the motor housing move with the drive spindle as co-vibrating units during an operation of the separator. The drive device is connected to the machine frame below the bearing at a lower axial end of the bearing via one or more joint elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: GEA Mechanical Equipment GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Thomas Bathelt, Andreas Penkl, Thomas Kleimann, Marie-Theres Sedler
  • Publication number: 20140249013
    Abstract: The invention relates to centrifuge apparatus of a type which is typically, although not necessarily exclusively, for use in counter current chromatography in which substances are caused to partition between two phases in a column typically in the form of a helix or spiral. The apparatus includes leads which connect the inlet and outlet conduits to a column which is moved by the apparatus and in accordance with the invention the leads are constrained within a sheath which includes a lubricant to allow lubrication of the same while the apparatus is in use and thereby increase the longevity of the apparatus. The opposing ends of the leads can also be constrained in terms of movement with, at one end of the leads being fully constrained and the opposing end the leads being constrained in terms of rotational movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: DYNAMIC EXTRACTIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Philip Wood
  • Publication number: 20140249012
    Abstract: A separator including a rotatable centrifugal drum having a vertical axis of rotation and an inflow line for a material to be processed by the separator. Also included is a drive spindle for the drum rotatably mounted via a mounting to a housing supported elastically on a machine stand section. A drive device includes an electric drive motor having a stator and a rotor which is aligned with the drive spindle. A lubricant system is configured to lubricate the mounting and the lubricant system includes a lubricant circuit to convey lubricant and has a lubricant collecting container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: GEA Mechanical Equipment GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried MACKEL, Thomas BATHELT, Andreas PENKL, Andreas SCHULZ, Marie-Theres SEDLER
  • Patent number: 8808154
    Abstract: A drive apparatus for a scroll centrifuge having a rotating drum and a scroll mounted coaxially therein has a drive motor associated with the drum and a scroll motor that is coupled to the scroll shaft via a gearbox whose housing is nonrotatably connected to the drum drive shaft. According to the invention, the housing of the gearbox for driving the scroll is rotatably mounted in a floor-mounted housing and has a hollow output shaft that is connected via a coupling to the hollow drum drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Hiller GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Wagenbauer, Christoph Puls
  • Patent number: 8758209
    Abstract: A separator including a rotatable centrifugal drum having a vertical axis of rotation and an inflow line for a material to be processed by the separator. Also included is a drive spindle for the drum rotatably mounted via a mounting to a housing supported elastically on a machine stand section. A drive device includes an electric drive motor having a stator and a rotor which is aligned with the drive spindle. A lubricant system is configured to lubricate the mounting and the lubricant system includes a lubricant circuit to convey lubricant and has a lubricant collecting container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: GEA Mechanical Equipment GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Thomas Bathelt, Andreas Penkl, Andreas Schulz, Marie-Theres Sedler
  • Patent number: 8652021
    Abstract: A decanter-type centrifugal separator equipped with a continuous lubricant supply device capable of preventing leakage of lubricating oil along supply pathways, and supplying and discharging lubricating oil. The continuous lubricant supply device has a lubricating oil supply channel formed inside a bowl hub, an annular introduction channel that introduces lubricating oil into the lubricating oil supply channel, a lubricating oil infusion channel formed inside a holder, and an oil collector installed on an outer surface of an outer shaft. The annular introduction channel has a first annular groove formed inside the holder such that the groove is occluded on the inside by the outer surface of the outer shaft. The oil collector can orbitally revolve in a predetermined direction inside the annular introduction channel, thereby moving lubricating oil radially inward in the annular introduction channel so as to flow into the lubricating oil supply channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Tomoe Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeo Yumoto, Toshio Tagami
  • Publication number: 20130190160
    Abstract: A decanter-type centrifugal separator equipped with a continuous lubricant supply device capable of preventing leakage of lubricating oil along supply pathways, and supplying and discharging lubricating oil. The continuous lubricant supply device has a lubricating oil supply channel formed inside a bowl hub, an annular introduction channel that introduces lubricating oil into the lubricating oil supply channel, a lubricating oil infusion channel formed inside a holder, and an oil collector installed on an outer surface of an outer shaft. The annular introduction channel has a first annular groove formed inside the holder such that the groove is occluded on the inside by the outer surface of the outer shaft. The oil collector can orbitally revolve in a predetermined direction inside the annular introduction channel, thereby moving lubricating oil radially inward in the annular introduction channel so as to flow into the lubricating oil supply channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: Takeo Yumoto, Toshio Tagami
  • Patent number: 8475351
    Abstract: The present invention provides a zonal centrifuge which has superior workability and functionality when a sample is filled and extracted. An oil bearing fitted to an outer circumference of a lower tube of a rotor is arranged on an internal face of a bearing housing fixed over a door adapter of the centrifuge. As the oil bearing and the lower tube are lubricated, a vacuum environment in a rotor rotating chamber is maintained. A rotating seal located at an upper leading end of the lower tube of the rotor and a fixing seal facing the rotating seal are arranged and provided in a sealed space formed by a mechanical seal member and the bearing housing, and the fixing seal is so manipulated as to be able to freely join and separate from the rotating seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaharu Aizawa
  • Patent number: 8444542
    Abstract: A gear apparatus for a solid-bowl screw centrifuge. The gear apparatus includes a shaft, a gear, and a bearing. The centrifuge includies a drum and a screw, both of which are configured to be driven. The screw is further configured to be driven at a different rotational speed relative to the drum. The gear apparatus is connected between one or more drive motors and the screw and the drum. The gear apparatus is continuously filled with a lubricant and includes a hollow drive shaft having two hollow longitudinal channels extending in an axial direction. Also included is a lubricant compensating system having a lubricant compensating container connected via a line and a rotary lead-through for lubricating the bearing through the two hollow longitudinal channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Gea Westfalia Separator GmbH
    Inventors: Wilhelm Ostkamp, Richard Neubauer
  • Patent number: 8425394
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifugal separator having a bearing device and a lubricating device comprising a rotatable pump device. The pump device comprises a lubricant inlet to receive lubricant from a lubricant reservoir, and a duct to convey lubricant to an outlet device for delivering at least part of said lubricant in the form of lubricant mist through at least one lubricant outlet. The pump device further comprises a gas inlet and the outlet device comprises a gas outlet, whereby during rotation of the pump device a gas flow is maintained from the gas inlet to the gas outlet bringing along lubricant present in the duct towards the outlet device. The centrifugal separator further comprises a housing which surrounds the bearing device and the lubricating device and which allows lubricant mist to pass from the lubricating device to the bearing device in order to lubricate the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Corporate AB
    Inventors: Lars-Erik Skytt, Per Fonser, Håkan Appelquist, Leonard Borgström
  • Publication number: 20120071313
    Abstract: Disclosed is a centrifuge including a rotatable centrifugal drum and a drive spindle to drive the centrifugal drum. The drive spindle is rotatably mounted via a bearing in a housing supported elastically on a machine framework. Further included is a drive device including a drive motor to rotate the drive spindle and a lubricant system to lubricate the bearing. The lubricant system is configured to deliver lubricant from a lubricant supply tank through a lubricant channel into a region of the bearing. An injection device is arranged downstream of the lubricant-supply tank and is configured to deliver the lubricant into the region of the bearing by dispensing quantities of lubricant in temporally discrete pulses with a limited-time air stream. A method is disclosed of directing lubricant into a region of a bearing of the centrifuge as noted above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: GEA WESTFALIA SEPARATOR GMBH
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Marie-Theres Sedler, Thomas Bathelt, Thomas Kleimann, Andreas Penkl, Bernd Terwey
  • Publication number: 20120021888
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifugal separator having a bearing device and a lubricating device comprising a rotatable pump device. The pump device comprises a lubricant inlet to receive lubricant from a lubricant reservoir, and a duct to convey lubricant to an outlet device for delivering at least part of said lubricant in the form of lubricant mist through at least one lubricant outlet. The pump device further comprises a gas inlet and the outlet device comprises a gas outlet, whereby during rotation of the pump device a gas flow is maintained from the gas inlet to the gas outlet bringing along lubricant present in the duct towards the outlet device. The centrifugal separator further comprises a housing which surrounds the bearing device and the lubricating device and which allows lubricant mist to pass from the lubricating device to the bearing device in order to lubricate the latter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: ALFA LAVAL CORPORATE AB
    Inventors: Lars-Erik Skytt, Per Fonser, Håkan Appelquist, Leonard Borgström
  • Patent number: 7909751
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes a sample line and a rotating apparatus portion including a rotor that has a rotor chamber. The centrifugal separator centrifugally separates a sample by supplying the sample from the sample line into the rotor and driving to rotate the rotor in the rotor chamber and discharges the centrifugally separated sample from the rotor via the sample line. The centrifugal separator includes a sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing at least a portion with which the sample is brought into contact by making a sterilizing fluid flow through the sample line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tobita, Masaharu Aizawa, Katsunori Akatsu, Tomohiro Koizumi
  • Patent number: 7901342
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes a sample line and a rotating apparatus portion including a rotor that has a rotor chamber. The centrifugal separator centrifugally separates a sample by supplying the sample from the sample line into the rotor and driving to rotate the rotor in the rotor chamber and discharges the centrifugally separated sample from the rotor via the sample line. The centrifugal separator includes a sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing at least a portion with which the sample is brought into contact by making a sterilizing fluid flow through the sample line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tobita, Masaharu Aizawa, Katsunori Akatsu, Tomohiro Koizumi
  • Publication number: 20110034312
    Abstract: A gear apparatus for a solid-bowl screw centrifuge. The centrifuge includes a drum and a screw, both of which drum and screw are configured to be driven and the screw is further configured to be driven at a different rotational speed relative to the drum. The gear apparatus is connected between one or more drive motors and the screw and the drum. The gear apparatus is continuously filled with a lubricant and includes a hollow drive shaft having at least one hollow channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: GEA WESTFALIA SEPARATOR GMBH
    Inventors: Wilhelm Ostkamp, Richard Bauer
  • Patent number: 7850590
    Abstract: A separator includes a centrifuge drum having a vertical rotational axis and a feed line to feed a product to be centrifugally processed. Further included is a drive spindle having an impeller to drive the centrifugal drum, which drive spindle is rotatably mounted in a housing by a bearing device and which is supported on a machine frame by an elastic support. Also included is a lubrication arrangement and a drive device including an electric drive motor having a stator and a motor rotor which is aligned with the drive spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Gea Westfalia Separator GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Helga Tietz
  • Publication number: 20100273625
    Abstract: A separator including a rotatable centrifugal drum having a vertical axis of rotation and an inflow line for a material to be processed by the separator. Also included is a drive spindle for the drum rotatably mounted via a mounting to a housing supported elastically on a machine stand section. A drive device includes an electric drive motor having a stator and a rotor which is aligned with the drive spindle. A lubricant system is configured to lubricate the mounting and the lubricant system includes a lubricant circuit to convey lubricant and has a lubricant collecting container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Wilfried MacKel, Thomas Bathelt, Andreas Penkl, Andreas Schulz, Marie-Theres Sedler
  • Publication number: 20100255976
    Abstract: A separator includes a centrifugal drum having a vertical axis of rotation and a feed line for material to be centrifuged. A drive spindle for the centrifugal drum is rotatably mounted on a housing via a bearing, the housing being supported elastically on a machine frame. A drive device includes a motor housing and an electric motor having a stator and an armature which is aligned with the drive spindle. The drive device and the motor housing move with the drive spindle as co-vibrating units during an operation of the separator. The drive device is connected to the machine frame below the bearing at a lower axial end of the bearing via one or more joint elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: GEA WESTFALIA SEPARATOR GMBH
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Thomas Bathelt, Andreas Penki, Thomas Kleimann, Marie-Theres Sedler
  • Publication number: 20100081553
    Abstract: The present invention provides a zonal centrifuge which has superior workability and functionality when a sample is filled and extracted. An oil bearing fitted to an outer circumference of a lower tube of a rotor is arranged on an internal face of a bearing housing fixed over a door adapter of the centrifuge. As the oil bearing and the lower tube are lubricated, a vacuum environment in a rotor rotating chamber is maintained. A rotating seal located at an upper leading end of the lower tube of the rotor and a fixing seal facing the rotating seal are arranged and provided in a sealed space formed by a mechanical seal member and the bearing housing, and the fixing seal is so manipulated as to be able to freely join and separate from the rotating seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventor: Masaharu AIZAWA
  • Patent number: 7591775
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes: a sample line; and a rotating apparatus portion including a rotor that has a rotor chamber. The centrifugal separator centrifugally separates a sample by supplying the sample from the sample line into the rotor and driving to rotate the rotor in the rotor chamber and discharges the centrifugally separated sample from the rotor via the sample line. The centrifugal separator includes: a sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing at least a portion with which the sample is brought into contact by making a sterilizing fluid flow through the sample line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tobita, Masaharu Aizawa, Katsunori Akatsu, Tomohiro Koizumi
  • Publication number: 20090233780
    Abstract: A separator includes a centrifuge drum having a vertical rotational axis and a feed line to feed a product to be centrifugally processed. Further included is a drive spindle to drive the centrifugal drum, which drive spindle is rotatably mounted in a housing by a bearing device and which is supported on a machine frame by an elastic support. Also included is a drive device including an electric drive motor having a stator and a motor rotor which is aligned with the drive spindle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: GEA WESTFALIA SEPARATOR GMBH
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Helga Tietz
  • Patent number: 7588526
    Abstract: A centrifuge, in particular a separator, having a rotating, vertically oriented drive spindle, which is supported on a machine frame by a bearing device, which exhibits at least one step bearing or lower thrust bearing and preferably one upper collar bearing, which are arranged in a common frame and lubrication space, which in its lower region is fashioned as an oil pan, the step bearing being enclosed by a cup element having a cylindrical outer shell and one open axial end and one closed axial end, through which cup element the drive spindle passes in centric fashion, the drive spindle and the cup element being connected to each other so as to be rotationally fixed relative to each other, a fin, which rotates along with the drive spindle, serving to generate a flow of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Westfalia Separator AG
    Inventors: Thomas Kleimann, Daniel Senger, Thomas Kottenstedte
  • Patent number: 7300396
    Abstract: In a centrifugal separator a centrifugal rotor is connected to a vertical spindle, which is supported by a frame and journalled in a first bearing and a second bearing. The centrifugal separator is drivable by an electric motor, the stator of the motor being fixed to the frame such that it is radially immovable relative to it, whereas the rotor of the motor is radially movable together with the spindle. The gap between the rotor and the stator of the motor is dimensioned so that it permits the radial movability of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Corporate AB
    Inventors: Jouko Pitkämäki, Robert Sandblom
  • Patent number: 7090634
    Abstract: A driving system for a separator having a centrifugal drum with a vertical axis of rotation. The driving system includes a vertically aligned driving spindle configured to accommodate a centrifugal drum. The driving spindle is arranged by a neck bearing and a footstep bearing in an opening of a drive housing. The neck bearing is supported in an axially rigid and radially resilient manner on the machine housing. The neck bearing is constructed as an angular ball bearing and supports the centrifugal drum on a spherical-shaped supporting surface of the machine housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Westfalia Separator AG
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Helga Tietz
  • Patent number: 6988980
    Abstract: A separator comprising a centrifugal drum driven by a centric spindle mounted with at least one axial bearing on a machine frame and a barrier chamber for hydrohermetic sealing an oil layer inside the barrier chamber. The barrier chamber has an immersion plate therein and is disposed in the axial region between the at least one bearing and the centrifugal drum around the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Westfalia Separator AG
    Inventor: Reinhard Moss
  • Patent number: 6981940
    Abstract: A control system for a centrifuge that allows the centrifuge to continue to run when there is a short duration failure or outage of the AC power source. The control system allows the centrifuge to be brought to a stop in a normal shutdown mode where there are longer duration failures or outages of the AC power source. This allows power to be maintained to the pump that lubricates the centrifuge bearings so that the bearings are lubricated during the coast down of the centrifuge and the differential speed of the centrifuge to be controlled during coast down allowing the centrifuge bowl to be cleared of solids so that the centrifuge can be immediately started up at lower vibration levels once power is restored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: ABB Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard Rafferty
  • Publication number: 20040259710
    Abstract: A control system for a centrifuge that allows the centrifuge to continue to run when there is a short duration failure or outage of the AC power source. The control system allows the centrifuge to be brought to a stop in a normal shutdown mode where there are longer duration failures or outages of the AC power source. This allows power to be maintained to the pump that lubricates the centrifuge bearings so that the bearings are lubricated during the coast down of the centrifuge and the differential speed of the centrifuge to be controlled during coast down allowing the centrifuge bowl to be cleared of solids so that the centrifuge can be immediately started up at lower vibration levels once power is restored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: ABB Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard Rafferty
  • Publication number: 20040192532
    Abstract: A driving system for a separator having a centrifugal drum with a vertical axis of rotation. The driving system includes a vertically aligned driving spindle-configured to accommodate a centrifugal drum. The driving spindle is arranged by a neck bearing and a footstep bearing in an opening of a drive housing. The neck bearing is supported in an axially rigid and radially resilient manner on the machine housing. The neck bearing is constructed as an angular ball bearing and supports the centrifugal-drum on a spherical-shaped supporting surface of the machine housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: Westfalia Separator AG
    Inventors: Wilfried Mackel, Helga Tietz
  • Patent number: 6626814
    Abstract: A drive unit for a centrifuge rotor of a centrifugal separator is provided that includes a drive shaft, arranged to support the centrifuge rotor and rotatably journalled around an axis (z) of rotation, a casing, which forms an inner space for the drive shaft, a drive motor shaft which is provided outside the casing and connected to the drive shaft by means of a transferring member extending through a passage in the casing, at least one shielding member, which is provided inside the casing in such a manner that the part of the transferring member which is located inside the casing is shielded from the inner space, and wherein the shielding member forms a channel, which extends through the casing and is shielded from the inner space of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventor: Jan Setterberg
  • Patent number: 6228016
    Abstract: A simple but still effective sealing device to separate two openings (4, 5), which are arranged at a distance from each other in the outer casing (3) of a shaft suspension unit (1), which supports a shaft (2) of a centrifugal separator in a bearing (8, 9), the shaft extending axially through at least one opening (4) into a space surrounding the shaft (2) in the outer casing (3). The sealing device is provided with sealing elements (12, 13), one connected to the outer casing (3) and one connected to the shaft (2), which surround the shaft (2) and divide the space in two departments (15, 16) connected to one opening each (4, 5, respectively). The sealing elements form between themselves a narrow gap (14) surrounding the shaft (2), which prevents the flow of gas between the departments (15, 16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventors: Aksel Kristensen, Sven-Åke Nilsson, Jouko Pitkämäki, Carl Peder Öhlander, Robert Sandblom
  • Patent number: 6117063
    Abstract: The invention refers to a device and a method for cooling a bearing of a centrifugal separator. Through a portion (11, 21) adjacent to the bearing extends at least one channel (15, 23), which is arranged to receive a flow of a cooling medium and comprises at least two successive channel portions (23) and at least one connecting portion (24) provided between successive channel portions. The connecting portion (24) is arranged to provide such a mixing of the cooling medium in the flow through the channel that the flow has an essentially uniform velocity profile immediately after the connecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventors: Stefan Szepessy, Jouko Juhani Pitkamaki
  • Patent number: 5848959
    Abstract: A mechanism for driving a centrifuge drum has a shaft housing and a vertical transmission shaft having an upper end on which a centrifuge drum is mountable. Upper and lower bearings mount the shaft for rotation in the shaft housing. A wheel is mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith and a drive belt rotates the shaft via the wheel. An oil pool provides an oil mist for lubricating the upper bearing. The lower bearing is immersed in the oil pool and the wheel is mounted on the shaft above the upper bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Westfalia Separator Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johannes Droste, Wilfried Mackel, Markus Ruwe
  • Patent number: 5772573
    Abstract: A decanter centrifuge assembly comprises a bowl, a screw conveyor disposed inside the bowl for rotation at a speed different from an angular velocity of the bowl, and a harmonic drive unit including a circular spline drivingly connected to the conveyor. The harmonic drive unit further includes a flexible spline drivingly connected to the bowl and a wave generator disposed in contact with the flexible spline for distorting the flexible spline and enabling a driving of the flexible spline at a rate of rotation incrementally differing from a rate of rotation of the circular spline. The flexible spline has teeth partially meshing with teeth on the circular spline. The harmonic drive additionally has a lubrication system with a skimmer tube for paring lubricating fluid from a pool in an outer casing of the harmonic drive. A shaft coupled to the wave generator has a channel communicating with the skimmer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Chi-Chung Hao
  • Patent number: 5364335
    Abstract: A vertically oriented centrifuge swivably engaged to a support structure so as to enable the centrifuge to attain an optimal operational attitude. The centrifuge includes a bowl, a screw conveyor disposed within the bowl, a hub disposed within the upper portion of the screw conveyor wherein the screw conveyor and hub define a separation chamber, and a plurality of separating discs disposed in the separation chamber and arranged in superimposed layers upon the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Dorr-Oliver Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul H. Franzen, Ken J. Alit, Richard R. Michaud, Helmuth Probstmeyer, Michael R. Tammone
  • Patent number: 4946433
    Abstract: The drive of a centrifuge utilized in biology, biophysics and medicine includes a casing accommodating a stator and a rotor whose shaft is installed in an angular bearing and rigidly connected with a flexible shaft fixed rotatably in a dumping device. The casing has passages for the circulation of lubricant and coolant, respectively, the rotor has a blind hole arranged coaxially with the rotation axis of the rotor; and the angular bearing has supporting and radial slide surfaces and is fixed in the rotor by means of the damping device so that the radial slide surface is located at least partly in the blind hole of the rotor, said bearing having passages ensuring circulation of lubricant over its supporting and radial surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Inventors: Boris P. Gorodissky, Alexandr I. Sambursky
  • Patent number: 4941866
    Abstract: A centrifuge comprises a vacuum chamber (1) accomodating a replaceable rotor (7). The vacuum chamber (1) includes an evaporator (4) connected to a cooling unit (3). A drive (9) of the rotor (7) is journalled in bearings (10), and has a cooling jacket (21). An oil tank (12) with a pump (11) are provided to feed the oil to the bearings (10). The centrifuge also has a heat exchanger (19) for cooling the oil arranged so as to ensure heat transfer between the oil and cooling agent of the cooling unit (3). The pump (11) is connected through the heat exchanger (19) and cooling jacket (21) to the oil tank (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Inventors: Boris P. Gorodissky, Jury A. Lotts, Lev N. Veretenov
  • Patent number: 4654023
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a centrifugal separator of the kind comprising a rotor (1), which is supported by a vertical driving shaft (2), a stationary casing (3), which surrounds the rotor (1) and has a bottom opening (5) through which the driving shaft (2) extends, a frame (4) which supports the casing (3) and is arranged to support radially in a resilient manner a radial bearing (6) for the driving shaft (2), and a mechanical seal with two sealing rings abutting axially against each other, one rotatable (11) and one non-rotatable (13), to seal the interior of the casing (3) from connection with the space surrounding the radial bearing (6) via the opening (5) in the bottom of the casing (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Alfa-Laval Separation AB
    Inventor: Zoltan Foldhazy
  • Patent number: 4457745
    Abstract: A centrifuge with a drive-mechanism that incorporates a vertical spindle mounted on ball or roller bearings and driven by a belt in such a way as to rotate while aligning itself in space around a point of attachment on its longitudinal axis with respect to the framework of the centrifuge and with respect to a bearing housing that is supported on the framework. The midplane of the drive belt extends through the point of attachment, with which the center of mass of the self-aligning components also coincide. The overall length of the spindle is short. The ratio L/D of the distance L between the bearings to the diameter D of the bearings ranges from approximately 0 to 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: Westfalia Separator AG
    Inventors: Klaus D. Broker, Paul Bruning, Eberhard Wenzel
  • Patent number: 4375871
    Abstract: A rotating seal for a continuous flow centrifuge is disclosed. The rotating seal is mounted at the center of mass of the rotor to reduce vibration of the seal. The nonrotating portion of the rotating seal is maintained in contact with the rotating portion of the seal by a three point spring secured to a housing which is resiliently mounted to the chamber which encloses the rotor. In this manner, the nonrotating disk is able to follow the reduced amplitude vibrations of the rotating disk with reduced leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1983
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: William A. Romanauskas